Halloween Costumes: To Make or to Buy?

Halloween is drawing near, and my 3-year-old daughter is talking non-stop about all the things she wants to be: a princess, Little Bo Peep, a kitty… the list goes on and on. Regardless of which one she settles on, I have to decide whether I want her costume—and mine—to be store-bought or homemade. Here are some of the things that I, and anyone else planning to dress up this Halloween, should take into consideration before deciding to purchase or create a costume.

Store-Bought Costumes

Pros: One of the most obvious reasons to buy a store-bought costume? It’s easy. You can literally grab a costume and be on your way in a matter of minutes. Another benefit is that many costumes, such as ones with masks or ones that depict a pop-culture character, can’t be made at home. So if your child is aching to look exactly like his favorite cartoon character, store-bought is probably the way to go. Besides, taking your family to the costume store can be a lot of fun! Some of my best memories of Halloween as a kid involved searching the wondrous aisles with my parents for the perfect costume.

Cons: Of course, there are drawbacks to buying a costume. It’s hard to find a truly unique costume at a store, and it’s a good bet that you’ll run into another person wearing the exact same get-up on the big day. Store-bought costumes are also notorious for having poor-quality fabrics—and they’re not exactly cheap. It’s easy to spend over a hundred dollars on a single costume, once you add in all the accessories.

Homemade

Pros: One of the best things about making a costume is that you’re not limited to what’s hanging on the racks. Many costume ideas can’t be found at stores, and by making your own original costume you’ll likely turn a lot of heads. Homemade costumes also can be cheaper than those bought in the store, and you can feel a lot of pride when you’ve crafted a winning costume at home. You’ll also demonstrate to your kids the value of a little hard work.

Cons: It can’t be understated, however, how time-consuming it can be to make a homemade costume. The process can go from fun to very stressful in a hurry if making your costume proves more difficult than you originally anticipated. Even with all your hard work, the result can sometimes turn out to be less satisfying than you’d hoped. It may sound like the cheaper way to go, but homemade costumes certainly aren’t free: The little things add up, so do the math to make sure you don’t end up spending more than you would on a store-bought costume when all is said and done.

Store-Bought/Homemade Combination

Another option is to augment a predominantly homemade costume with a store-bought item. A witch’s costume, for example, can be largely homemade by combining a black dress with a broom, but to complete the look you may need a store-bought accessory like a witch’s hat, witch’s wig, or glue-on wart. Going this route is particularly appealing for those who love the originality of a home-designed costume but appreciate the timesaving trick of adding something pre-made.

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